dix heures du soir
The English phrase 'ten pm' is translated into French as dix heures du soir.
The phrase dix heures du soir is used to denote ten o'clock in the evening. In casual conversation, if the context of it being evening is already established, you may simply say dix heures. To be precise and specify 10 PM exactly using the 24-hour clock format, you would say vingt-deux heures.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase dix heures du soir literally translates to 'ten hours of the evening'.
Which one should you use?
While dix heures du soir is the standard way to refer to the time in a 12-hour format, vingt-deux heures is used when using the 24-hour clock format to be exact. Additionally, dix heures can be used as a shorthand in informal settings if the time of day is already known.
Did you know?
- The word dix shares the same Proto-Indo-European root as the English word 'decimate', which originally referred to removing one in ten.
- In France, the 24-hour clock is so dominant that you will see 22h00 on train tickets, movie posters and television guides rather than 10 PM.
- French speakers often use le soir to refer to the entire block of time from late afternoon until bedtime, making dix heures du soir feel more like 'ten o'clock of the night-time'.
Examples in context
- Le rendez-vous aura lieu à dix heures du soir.The appointment will take place at ten PM.
- Je suis disponible à dix heures du soir, on se retrouve chez moi ?I am available at ten PM, shall we meet at my place?
- On se voit à dix heures le soir ?Shall we meet at ten PM?
- Le film commence à dix heures du soir.The movie starts at ten pm.
- Je me couche vers dix heures du soir.I go to bed around ten pm.
- Il est déjà dix heures du soir ici.It is already ten pm here.
Example conversation
Gabriel and Manon are finishing a late dinner at a restaurant.
- GabrielIl est déjà dix heures du soir ?Is it already ten pm?
- ManonOui, le temps a passé vite.Yes, time passed quickly.
- GabrielOn devrait partir, Manon.We should leave, Manon.
- ManonTu as raison, Gabriel.You are right, Gabriel.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dix, du, soir, CC BY-SA 4.0.
